Minister Väyrynen to visit South Africa and Zambia
Press release 64/2009
27 February, 2009
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will visit the Republic of South Africa and Zambia during the first week of March. The minister will be in South Africa on 2–3 March. Expansion and diversification of political and trade relations between Finland and South Africa will be discussed during the visit, as Finland’s donor-type development aid will cease by the year 2010. The countries will sign a partnership declaration where cooperation in the field of information society is one priority of the future partnership.
Väyrynen will meet with several ministers in South Africa, such as the Minister of Science and Technology and the Minister of Minerals and Energy. During the ministers’ meetings, the challenges facing Africa’s development and issues of climate change and the environment will also be discussed.
The minister’s trip will continue to Zambia on 3–5 March. Zambia is one of Finland’s eight long-term development cooperation partners, and the focal points of the visit are development cooperation, economic and trade relations, and the political situation of Zambia and the area.
During his visit, Väyrynen is scheduled to meet with President Rupiah Banda of Zambia and, among others, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Environment. Furthermore, Minister Väyrynen will visit Luapula Province, to become acquainted with a rural development project financed by Finland and to meet with leaders of the province. He will also go to Ndola, located in the copper zone, which in addition to the mining industry is also engaged in forestry and forest industry activities.
An extensive delegation representing Finnish businesses and government bodies will also take part in the minister’s trip.
Additional information: Jorma Suvanto, Head of the Unit for Southern Africa, tel. +358 9 1605 6235; Päivi Nevala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, mobile tel. +358 40 753 4375; and Press Attaché Riikka Manner, mobile tel. +358 400 739 824